Author: Raffy Rico

Germination improves brown rice – study

Brown rice (BR) is healthier than white rice. A simple germination process can even more enhance the health-promoting properties of BR. The study, Development and Evaluation of Functional Beverage with Germinated Brown Rice as Base Ingredient by Rodel Bulatao, Jody Chaves, and Dr. Marissa Romero from the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division proved that germination can make the healthy BR more nutritious. The study was the Grand Slam Winner of the Gold AFMA Best R&D Paper and Best R&D Poster Awards during the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) 26th National Research Symposium. During the conference, Romero presented the nutrient composition and properties of germinated brown rice (GBR) from white and pigmented rice varieties. They also studied the utilization of GBR in the development of a healthy and tasty cow’s milk-based beverages. From this, they developed a commercially-ready functional (health-enriched) beverage with buffalo`s milk, and determined its nutritional content, shelf-life, and storage stability. “We know that brown rice is nutritionally superior than white or milled rice. Yet, drawbacks on its cooking time and texture discourage the public to consume it. And so we thought of germinating it to help address these concerns,” Bulatao said. Previous studies confirmed that germination improves the cooking, eating, and nutritional qualities of brown rice. “We found out that GBR from pigmented rice has better phytochemical, antioxidant, and functional properties than GBR from white rice...

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Promoting Pinoy Agricultural Biotechnology

An NBW Policy Forum on Strengthening Biotechnology Research and Development in Agriculture Food security robustness is a country’s ability to withstand any perturbations to its food security system by having a balanced capacity to make food available; ensure that production is sustainable; and provide the necessary infrastructure and policies to support domestic production, promote trade and manage food demand and affordability (Teng and Morales, 2013). The problem of hunger and malnutrition is pervasive worldwide, especially in developing countries where communities are highly vulnerable to risks. This problem is likely to worsen dramatically as the world is facing abrupt changes in demographics, dietary patterns, agriculture sector performance, environmental degradation and adverse effects of climate change. Under AFMA 1997[1], agricultural biotechnology is recognized as one of the means to transform the agriculture and fisheries sectors from being resource-based to becoming technology-based; thereby, modernizing them in pursuit of food security amidst transitory and chronic threats in agricultural production.  Agricultural biotechnology has the potential to help grow more food with less water, less land, less labour, less waste and under challenges of more variable weather. The potential of this technology can be realized with having a strong R&D pillar built around a robust and creative scientific community that is able to generate novel and beneficial technologies. The Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Program Office will hold a whole day forum to tackle critical policy...

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DENR, birdwatchers team up to conserve wild birds

DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje has called on the public to “shoot birds with camera” instead of gun.“Shoot birds with camera, not with gun,” Paje stressed, as he reminds the public on the need to conserve and protect the country’s birds, including the migratory ones, for the important role they play to maintain a balanced ecosystem. This, even as he said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has joined forces with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) to help save and protect all native bird populations. Under the agreement they have entered, the WBCP will support and complement the DENR’s conservation efforts by lending the expertise and skills of its members on bird photography. “This is a unique approach to conservation – aiming and shooting at birds with cameras instead of guns,” DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said. The environment chief noted that the WBCP is widely recognized as a leader in bird conservation in the country. “WBCP’s transformation from an outdoor leisure-hobby group into a serious conservation-oriented organization bodes well for the implementation of successful conservation programs, not only for birds but also for important conservation sites,” Paje said. He said the signing of the agreement fits perfectly with the DENR’s wildlife protection initiatives, especially as the country enters its 33rd year on November 16 fulfilling its commitment to the Convention on...

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PhilRice celebrates innovations

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) renewed its commitment to the Filipinos by inspiring innovations and rural transformation during its recent 29th anniversary. Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director, said that the Institute`s advances in research and development show the rice workers` efforts in helping the country provide enough rice and foster progress in rural areas. In 2013, PhilRice released 10 new early-maturing varieties for saline, irrigated, and rainfed lowland areas. NSIC Rc3442SR, an aromatic special that is moderately resistant to green leaf hopper, was also released. “We have achieved sustained progress in rice production by providing Filipino farmers with new high-yielding rice varieties.  [Last year was] also remarkable with the National Year of Rice campaign. [During this campaign], we led many Filipinos in sending a unified message that each of us can help attain rice sufficiency and this year, we [upheld] that message by motivating everyone to be responsible rice consumers,” Rasco said. The 29-year-old agency spurred innovations such as the development of nutri-rice milk, Metarhizium anisopliae in powder form, and hydrous bioethanol fuel injector for spark-ignition engines. Nutri-Rice milk is a healthy drink made from germinated brown rice containing Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, which improves brain and cardiovascular functions and can slow down the effects of aging.  On the other hand, Metarhizium anisopliae is a fungal microbial agent that controls rice black bug – a...

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148 na Magsasakang Benepisyaryo ng CARP, Tumaggap ng sakahing lupa sa Negros Occidental

Pormal ng isinalin ng Department of Agrarian Reform ( DAR ) ang pag mamay-ari sa may 148 magsasakang benepisyaryo ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) ang lupang ipinamahagi sa kanila sa bayan ng Hinigaran, lalawigan ng Negros Occidental. Ayon kay Hinigaran Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer ( MARPO )Zenaida Montalvo, 103 sa mga magsasaka mula sa naturang bilang ang itinalaga sa 138.3 ektaryang lupain na dating pagmamay-ari ni Ginoong Juan Ysasi sa Barangay Palayog. Samantalang ang natitirang 45 na mga magsasaka naman ang tumanggap sa 31.6 ektaryang lupa na dating pagmamay-ari ni Ginang Margarita Yulo-Gonzaga, sa Barangay Pilar ng nasabing bayan. Hiniling naman ni MARPO Domingo Gatmaitan sa mga magsasaka, na personal nilang tamnan at gawing produktibo ang naturang lupa para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang kabuhayan. Ipinaalala pa ni MARPO Gatmaitan sa mga magsasaka, na obligasyon rin nila na magbayad ng amortisasyon ng lupa na nakapaloob sa Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP) ng pamahalaan. Maliban sa pamamahagi ng lupa, maglalaan rin ang DAR ng mga suportang serbisyo, tulad ng pautang, mga makinarya para sa pagsasaka at mga pagsasanay, Ito ay para matulungan ang mga magsasaka na maging produktibo ang lupang ipinagkatiwala sa  kanila ng...

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Child Rights Advocate to Aquino: Fulfill UNCRC Commitment

Quezon City, 20 November 2014 – Following reports showing evidences that child rights violations continue to persist despite key achievements in the implementation of children’s rights in the Philippines, child rights advocates today urge President Aquino to use the remaining days of his term to fulfill the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [1]. The group Bata Muna [2] calls on President Aquino to prevent retrogression in the realization of children’s rights and urged him to step up actions to ensure that policies needed are put in place before his term ends.  ...

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PDEA ACQUIRES NEW VEHICLES FOR CAPABILITY ENHANCEMENT

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has added 11 new motor vehicles to its pool of resources this last quarter of 2014 as part of its projects for operational capability enhancement. The 11 brand new Crossover Utility Vehicles were funded through the Agency’s 2014 General Appropriations Act, or GAA, which was administered by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The fund amounted to ₱9,889,000.00. The vehicles were delivered on October 31, 2014. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. led the blessing of the new vehicles at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City on November 3, 2014. The recipients of the vehicles include the Logistics Service; Special Enforcement Service, the NAIA – Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group of the PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region, and PDEA Regional Offices 2, 4A, 4B, 6 and 8. “These vehicles are intended to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency in mobilizing our operating units and will greatly boost PDEA’s capability in conducting anti-drug operations,” Cacdac...

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PCP: HEALTHCARE WORKERS SHORTAGE IS THE REAL PROBLEM (Not PCV10 vs PCV13)

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), in cooperation with the Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine (PSGIM), and Action for Economic Reforms (AER), recently held the PCP Health Forum to discuss what is really the main issue regarding our Health Care System. The report regarding the procurement of vaccine brings to light the systemic problem in the prioritization of health funds, in the light of the fact that the basic elements of the Expanded Program on Immunization have not been addressed. While we say that PCV10 vs PCV13 is not the real health problem, it is a health-related problem....

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Nueva Vizcaya farmers now land owners

A total of 1,054 farmers in Nueva Vizcaya are happy to finally own the land they are tilling for so long after receiving their certificates of landownership awards (CLOAs) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). DAR Undersecretary Jose Grageda, together with Governor Ruth Padilla and DAR Regional Director Atty. Marjorie Ayson recently led the distribution of 2,274 hectares to farmer beneficiaries in Barangay Bagabag in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. Grageda said that the new CLOA holders are very lucky because the land given to them is for free owing to its being a government land, unlike in private lands where the beneficiaries will have to pay for its taxes. “Now that you own the land, be responsible and make it productive and progressive. We at the DAR will provide you with support services to help you achieve this,” Grageda exhorted the new small landowners. In her speech, Governor Padilla advised the farmers that they must take care of their land and do whatever they can to improve it. “You are very lucky because not all farmers in the Philippines are given Certificates of Ownership. If you have improved that land when it was not yours, how much more should you develop it now that it belongs to you,” Padilla said. Pineapple farmer Jun Guntaran expressed his gratefulness after receiving his CLOA. “This is a dream come true. Now I...

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Agusan Norte farmers’ Cooperative and Farmer-Beneficiary cited in Land Bank’s Gawad Pitak 2014

Shown receiving awards is BCBMPC Chairperson Magdalina Tiu, With some BCBMPC officers. (from left) Cooperative Development Authority Chairman Emmanuel Santiaguel, Land Bank Agricultural and development lending sector Executive Vice President Cecilia Borromeo, Land Bank President and Chief Executive Gilda Pico, Rep. Cresente Paez, and Finance Secretary and Land Bank Chairman Cesar Purisima.   The Baug CARP Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC) in Agusan del Norte bagged the 24th annual Ginintuang Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba Award (Gawad Pitak 2014) of the land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) under the agri-based category during the celebration of the bank’s 51stFounding  Anniversary at the...

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